Brassière

ABSTRACT

An outer garment item in the form of a brassiere for use in a reclining sleep or rest position includes an enclosing frame consisting of two enclosing frame parts which partially surround the respective breasts, are connected to each other and form a breast central web, an under-breast strap arrangement and a support arrangement which is connected to the under-breast strap arrangement and the enclosing frame parts. In order for the breasts to maintain their shape in any sleep position and to prevent the breasts from wrinkling by pressing together or lying on them, each breast is assigned an extension cup part which is fastened at one end in the region of the breast central web to the relevant enclosing frame part and can be attached in a variably releasable manner at the other end to an outer-side web of the relevant enclosing frame part.

The present invention relates to an outer garment, in particular a brassiere for use in a reclining sleeping or resting position according to the preamble of claim 1.

Many women, who lie on their side during sleep, discover wrinkles on the décolleté after waking up. The older the respective woman, the longer it takes until these wrinkles disappear again during the day. From a certain age on these wrinkles intensify and no longer disappear over the course of the day. The vertically extending wrinkles on the décolleté are caused because the breast is compressed during sleeping or resting in an essentially horizontal position or in the case of women that sleep on their sides the two breasts bear against each other or lie on top of each other.

In a so-called sleeping bra of the aforementioned type, known from DE 200 17 365 U1 one or more paddings are used, for example a padding along the under breast strap, lateral paddings and/or a padding along the breast center web. This sleeping bra is intended to protect the breasts against excessive pressure generated during sleep. Especially in the sideways position, the breasts are subjected to an unpleasant pressure, which can deform and damage the breast tissue. In spite of the mentioned paddings, in particular in the region of the breast center web, the respective breast can still shift in the sideways position over the breast center web so that the latter does not actually counteract the formation of wrinkles.

From U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,239 B2 and from U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,295 B2 an insert made for example of hard plastic material for preventing wrinkle formation is known, which are arranged as spacers between the two breasts. This insert or pad is arranged on an inside of a T-shirt or on the inside of a conventional brassiere and is intended to prevent one breast from bearing against or lying on top of the other breast in a sideways positions. A disadvantage of this known insert or pad is that in a nocturnal supine position, the breast may shift sideward and outwardly and thus a fold can arise at the underarm pit. In addition, such an insert cannot be used in the case of large and heavy breasts because they slide over the insert, which serves as spacer so that the problem of wrinkles that form in the décolleté is not solved. In addition, in the case of a sideways position, a cutting in or other stress on the lymphatic pathways is possible.

Object of the present invention is therefore to create an outer garment, in particular a brassiere of the aforementioned type for use in a reclining or resting position with which the breasts are retained in their position in any sleeping or resting position so that wrinkle formation as a result of compression of the breasts or lying of the breasts on top of each other is prevented.

For solving this object, the features set forth in claim 1 are provided in an outer garment, in particular a brassiere of the aforementioned type.

The measures according to the invention achieve that in contrast to brassieres that are worn during the day including nursing bras, the main support force does not reside in the region of the under breast strap but is mostly derived from the right side or left side of the breast center web, thereby ensuring a support effect of the breasts in reclining position. This counteracts the own weight of the breasts especially in the sideways position. In other words, in the sideways position during sleeping or resting in a reclining position, the breasts neither lie on top of each other nor is the respective other breast compressed, which prevents the formation of vertical wrinkles in the décolleté, which means between the base of the breasts. In addition to a brassiere, the measures according to the invention can also be implemented for example in a top.

In nursing bras (DE 603 06 630 T2, DE 298 07 111 U1, DE 299 16 482 U1) it is known to provide openable cups (German: Korbchen), however, as in the case of “normal” bras which are worn during the day, these also serve for supporting the breasts from the under breast strap and are opened or closed in the region of the breast center web or of a strap.

From U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,670 a brassiere with cups is known over which additionally extension parts for holding and forming the breasts from the under breast chord are stretched. The same is true for a sports brassiere known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,498 B1.

In the outer garment according to the invention, both ends of the extension cup part can be detachably or non-detachably attached. Preferably, however the features of claim 2 are provided so that based on the center support effect region, a detachable fastening at an outward pull occurs.

In a preferred embodiment of the one extension cup part, the features of claim 3 are provided. This enables an optimally adjusted holding or supporting of the respective breast in sideways position of the wearer during sleeping or resting.

A further preferred embodiment of the outer garment results from the features of claim 4, according to which an additional support is provided, in particular in a diagonal direction which lies between the directions which are predetermined by one of the extension cup parts and the other extension cup part. In this way, the breasts are not only supported or held in a sideways sleeping or resting position but also for example in supine sleeping or resting positions for preventing the formation of wrinkles. An embodiment of the additional extension cup part results from the features of claim 5.

The features according to claim 6 achieve that the ends of the one and the other additional extension cup part which can be attached to the outer-side web, only insignificantly increase bulkiness, thereby increasing the wearing comfort.

With the features of claim 7 it is possible to adjust the one or the other extension cup part to the shape and size of the breasts of the different wearers, to thereby individually select the wearing comfort. As a result, the outer garment has an optimal fit which does not interfere during sleep. In addition, the strength of the support force for the breasts can be increased or loosened by individual adjustment.

When the features of claim 8 are preferably provided, both breasts are optimally and completely covered or are accommodated by the cup formed thereby.

In this regard it is advantageous to proceed according to the features of claim 9 and/or 10 so that the support can be optimally adjusted.

Further details of the invention are set forth in the following description in which the invention is described and explained by way of the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

It is shown in:

FIG. 1 in a schematic perspective representation, a front view of a enclosing frame without extension cup parts of an outer garment in the form of a sleeping bra,

FIG. 2 in a schematic perspective front view according to FIG. 1 the (only shown on one side) sleeping bra with extension cup parts on the enclosing frame according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the open state,

FIG. 3 the sleeping bra in a front view according to FIG. 2, however in partially closed state and

FIG. 4 the sleeping bra according to FIG. 2 in (also only shown on one side) completely closed wearing state.

The outer wear garment shown in the drawing in the form of a brassiere 10 serves for use in an essentially reclining sleeping or resting position in order to prevent wrinkle formation in the region of the décolleté as a result of breasts lying on top of each other or bearing against each other when sleeping or resting in a sideways position. In FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawing, only the side of the brassiere 10 which in the following is referred to as sleeping bra, which is on the left when worn is shown in its entirety, while the side which is on the right when worn is always only partly shown in the form of a enclosing frame and a strap arrangement.

According to FIG. 1, the sleeping bra 10 has a enclosing frame 11, which consists of a left and right enclosing frame part 12 and 13, which each partially surround or encircle one of the breasts 14 or 15, and which are seamlessly connected with one another or as in FIG. 1 sewed to each other for forming a breast center web 16. The two enclosing frame parts 12 and 13 of the enclosing frame 11 are connected on the back with a circumferential bottom breast strap arrangement 20 which in a not shown manner can be provided with a closure on the front region or on the back region or can be circumferentially one-piece.

Each enclosing frame part 12, 13 has an inside web 21, 21′ with both neighboring inside webs 21, 21′ forming the breast center web 16, a breast base web 22, 22′ in the upper region and bottom breast webs 23, 23′ in the bottom region which under-breast webs are part of the circumferential under-breast strap arrangement 20 and each transition seamlessly into an outer side web 24 which forms an arm cutout approximately parallel to the bottom part of the inside webs 21, 21 below the respective arm 26 of the wearer. Each enclosing frame part 12, 13 which is open to the arm 26 is connected to a one-piece part by the webs 21 to 24 or 21′ to 24 and respectively partially surrounds a breast 14 or 15 as shown in FIG. 1. In the following, reference is only made to the left enclosing frame part 12 i.e., the side of the sleeping bra 10 which is on the left when worn because the right side, i.e. the right enclosing frame part 13 of the sleeping bra 10 is configured mirror image identical.

The sleeping bra 10 has two extension cup parts 30 and 32, which are held on the enclosing frame part 12. These two extension cup parts 30, 32 in the supine position as well as especially in the sideways position serve for counteracting the own weight of the breasts 14 (or 15) in particular inwardly so that the two breasts 14, 15 do not bear against each another or lie on top of each other, which would lead to wrinkle formation. Of course, only the one extension cup part 30 may be provided instead of the two extension cup parts 30 and 32 shown in the preferred embodiment of the sleeping bra 10 because this has to be provided or arranged as main part. Further extension cup parts can be added as desired.

FIG. 2 shows the extension cup parts 30 and 32 in the opened state in which they do not yet perform any supporting function relative to the respective beast 14.

The extension cup parts 30 and 32 are each configured lobe-like according to FIG. 2, this means they are fastened, preferably sewed, with one of their ends 36, 41 on a web 21, 22 of the enclosing frame part 12 and can be detachably fastened with their other free end 37, 42 on the approximately diagonally opposite web 24 of the respective enclosing frame part 12 with variable tension, wherein several adjustable fastening possibilities exist for corresponding tightening. The lobes 33 or 34 of the extension cup parts 30, 32 are each formed according to their position over a region of the breast 14 and provided with a corresponding base-surface shape. In addition, they are preferably formed from a stretch-like i.e., elastic fabric whereas the material of the webs 21 to 24 of the enclosing frame part 12 can be configured non-elastic or less elastic.

According to FIG. 2, the first or main extension cup part 30 is fastened with its one end 36 along the inside web 21 and along a partial region of the breast base webs 22 and along at least a sub-region of the under breast web 23. Preferably, the fastening of the main extension cup pat 30 ends on the under breast web 23 in the region of the transition to the outer side web 24, i.e., approximately underneath the arm 26. The free end 37 of the extension cup part 30, which is narrower than the fixed end 36, is provided with closure parts 43, whose counter closure parts 44 are provided on the outer side web 24. The counter closure parts 44 are arranged one behind another in the direction of the fastening of the lobe 33. As can also be seen from FIG. 3, the free bottom longitudinal border 51 of the lobe 33 extends approximately straight while it's upper longitudinal border is configured curved. The main support force according to the arrow 45 thus acts from the inside of the breast outwardly.

The second extension cup part 32 is fastened with it's fixed end 41 longitudinally on the breast base web 22. Thus, the fixed end 41 of the second extension cup part 32 reaches up to the breast base 22 over a length, which partially overlaps the fixed end 36 of the first extension cup part 30. The free end 42 of the second extension cup part 32 which is provided with closure parts 47 and is significantly narrower than the fixed end 41, is detachably fastened with counter closure parts 48 approximately laterally on a region of the outer side web 24 in an outwardly protruding manner, which region is located below the counter closure parts 44 for the first extension cup part 30. There as well, the counter closure parts 48 are arranged one behind the other in pulling direction of the lobe 34 of the second extension cup part 32. As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the bottom longitudinal border 53 of the lobe 34 and its top longitudinal border 54 are configured curved in opposite direction. Overall, the lobe 34 is cut slightly narrower than the lobe 33. Also in this case, the main support force acts according to the arrows 46 from the inside of the breast in approximately diagonal direction outwardly toward the outer side web 24.

The extension cup parts 30 and/or 32 are preferably plastic, i.e., three dimensionally formed according to the shape and/or size of the breasts 14, 15.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the manner of closing and the sequential arrangement of the extension cup parts 30 and 32 and their detachable and adjustable fastening on the enclosing frame part 12.

FIG. 3 shows the detachable fastening of the first or main extension cup 30 over an initially very wide region of the left breast 14 to the counter closure part 44 on the outer side web 24, i.e., from inside to outside. Because the counter closure part 44 has several elements, which are arranged behind one another, it is possible to individually adjust the support force by the extension cup part 30 for the breast 14, i.e., to intensify or loosen the support force, in order to achieve a good wearing comfort at a sufficient support force. For this, the extension cup part 30 is preferably also formed plastically. As a result of this measures according to FIG. 3, the left breast 14 is prevented from bearing against or lie over the right breast 15 during sleeping or resting of the wearer in the right sideways position. The main extension cup part 30 exerts its support force in the breast inside region and in the region of the under breast web 23.

According to FIG. 4, the second extension cup part 32 is laid over the fastened first or main extension cup part 30 and is detachably fastened on the free end 42 in a more or less tight manner by means of the closure part 47. The second or further extension cup part 32 was especially modified for large and already very flaccid breasts so that the entire upper part of the breast 14 receives support from inside to outside and diagonally also downwardly. The location of the free ends 37 (up) and 42 (down) can also lie underneath each other instead of on top of each other, according to FIG. 4 when the lobes 33 and 34 are formed correspondingly.

Of course, the order of arrangement for the extension cup parts 30, 32 can also be different than described.

Thus, the two extension cup parts 30, 32 or their lobes 33 or 34 form a complete cup for the respective here left breast 14. With this, a support effect of the breast 14 is achieved in all directions when reclining, in particular in a sideways sleeping or resting position. Of course, the right breast 15, which is shown free and uncovered in all Figures, is covered correspondingly. Different from the brassiere that is worn during the day (i.e. in upright body position) in which the support force is essentially only based on the bottom breast strap (due to the vertical gravity) the sleeping bra 10 (which is worn in reclining position) according to the invention achieves that its support force mainly originates from the inside, the breast center web 16 towards the right side or towards the left side due to the main extension cup part 30 and in addition due to the second extension cup part 32 and optional further ones, sideward from the top because the gravity of the breast 14, 15 acts in the corresponding direction against the arrows 45 or 46. In other words, the sleeping bra differs optically from conventional bras in that it does not cover the breasts in the shipped state (or: in the not closed state) because it does not contain cups in the classical sense.

The different parts (webs, lobes) of the sleeping bra 10 are made of a suitable material, wherein the lobes are in particular formed by elastic fabrics. Preferably, breathable materials are used.

In the shown exemplary embodiment, the enclosing frame parts 12 and 13 can already be occupied with a cup of the present configuration over which the extension cup part or parts 30, 32 can be arranged according to the invention. The enclosing frame parts 12, 13 can also be configured in a simplified manner without the breast base web 22. It is also possible to provide the measures according to the invention in an outer garment, which is configured as top.

The enclosing frame parts 12, 13 can also completely surround the respective breast 14, 15 by providing and arm cut out (not shown) between the breast base web 22 or 22′ and the outer side web 24 along which arm cut out the upper longitudinal border 54 of the further extension cup part 32 extends at least partially.

Even though the closure parts 43 and 47 and the counter closure parts 44 and 48 are shown as hooks and eyes in the Figures, they can of course also be formed by hook and loop closure parts or pressure button elements or others. In addition, the locations of the fixed and free end of the extension cup part or parts 30, 32 can be switched. The form of the longitudinal borders can also vary. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An outer garment, in particular a brassiere (10) for use in a reclining sleeping or resting position, comprising: a enclosing frame comprising two interconnected enclosing frame parts forming a breast center web, each said enclosing frame part at least partially surrounding a respective breast; an under-breast strap arrangement; a support arrangement connected with the under-breast strap arrangement and the enclosing frame parts; and an extension cup part provided for each respective breast, with one end of the extension cup part being held on a respective one of the enclosing frame parts in a region of the breast center web so as to provide a support force acting on the respective breast, and another end of the extension cup part being held on an outer-side web of the respective enclosing frame part.
 12. The outer garment of claim 11, wherein the extension cup part is fastened invariably with the one end in the region of the breast center web and is releasably held with the other end on the outer-side web in a variably attachable manner.
 13. The outer garment of claim 11, wherein the extension cup part is defined at the one end by a first width which approximately reaches from an under-breast web of the enclosing frame part along an inner side web adjacent the breast center web to about a longitudinal center region of a breast base web, said first width being significantly greater than a second width of the other end of the extension cup part, wherein a bottom longitudinal border of the extension cup part extends essentially along an under breast web of the under breast strap arrangement, and wherein an upper longitudinal border of the extension cup part has a curved shape.
 14. The outer garment of claim 11, further comprising another extension cup part provided for each respective breast, wherein one end of the other extension cup part is fastened in a region of a breast base web of the enclosing frame part and is held with a support force which acts on the respective breast, and another end of the other extension cup part is preferably releasably held on the outside web of the respective enclosing frame part, preferably in a variably attachable manner.
 15. The outer garment of claim 14, wherein the other extension cup part at the one end has a width which extends approximately along the breast base web of the enclosing frame part, said width being significantly greater than a width of the other preferably releasably held end, wherein an upper or outer border which approximately extends along an arm cut out between the breast base web and the outside web and a bottom border extend curved in opposite direction.
 16. The outer garment of claim 14, wherein the releasably attachable end of the one extension cup part and the releasably attachable end of the other extension cup part are arranged at a distance to each other on the outer side web.
 17. The outer garment of claim 14, wherein the releasably attachable end of the one extension cup part and/or the releasably attachable end of the other extension cup part are attachable so as to be variably adjustable in their pulling force.
 18. The outer garment of claim 14, wherein in a worn state of the outer garment, the one extension cup part and the other extension cup part are arranged on top of each other so as to partially cover one another.
 19. The outer garment of claim 18, further comprising one or more further extension cup parts, wherein the one extension cup part, the other extension cup part and the further extension cup parts are arranged on top of each other so as to partially cover one another.
 20. The outer garment of claim 19, wherein the one and the other extension cup parts or further extension cup parts which are arranged over the breast, form a completely closed cup for the respective breast.
 21. The outer garment of claim 11, wherein the extension cup part is three-dimensionally preformed so as to conform to a shape of the respective breast.
 22. The outer garment of claim 21, further comprising one or more further extension cup parts three-dimensionally preformed so as to conform to the shape of the respective breast. 